West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-12-02
From the y. y. Real Estate Bulletin.
WEST VIRGINIA.
CHARLESTOwN. W. Va, :
October 2S, 1887. !


While the current year has wit
messed unusual activity in the real
estate markets Of the country, and
in many localities throughout the
West ana South values having en-
HANGED from normal and genuine
causes, vet there can be no doubt
that a large part Of the blooming"
has been artificial and speculative,
and manipulated much after the
manner OF fUlling stocks. Heavy
drafts have been made upon future
development, most Of which will
come too late, / fear To save the too
credulOus investor.
West Virginia. however, stands
ont marked exception. This State
has experienced no artificial ''bOOm"
nor real estate craze, but level
headed capitalists and practical OPP
orators from the East and North
west. from Canada and Europe, have
been quietly placing their money
whore it will do the most good, TO
wit: in the timber and mineral
lands of West Virginia. Thus from
purely intrinsic causes, from the
vastness of her visible and tangible
resources, values have been steadily
advancing all along the line of the
timber and mineral districts IL
manner TO inspire confidence in the
present and to insure the future.
MoHey judiciously invested in
these properties must periorce of
inevitable natural conditions yield
large profits and comparatively
quick returns.
West Virginia needs railroads, the
theory ot Mr. Chauncey NJ. Depew
to the contrary, Notwithstanding.
He may be right, that there has been
Reconstruction Of competitive
lines across the continent, but a
glance at the map will show an area
IN West Virginia lying between the
lines of the Baltimore & Ohio, the
Chesapeake & Ohio, and the Norfolk
Il Western Railroads, equal in size
70 the States of Delaware and New
Jersey, without a railroad in it.
This area comprises one forth Of the
Great Appalachian coal field, abOun-
ding in all varieties of coal except
anthracite, besides other valuable
minerals. magnificent farming and
grazing lands, and containing nine
mjlltoH acres Of cirgm forests Of
the best bOrdWOOdS OH this
continent There are many en-
terprises recently organized for riy-
er Improvement and railroad con-
struction, and the actual railrOSd
construction during the year has
been very considerable. 1 Still the
demand tor timber and mineral lands
accessible to railroads from practi
cal operators for immediate use is in
excess of the supply. This demand
insures the construction of railroads
along the level of nearly all the riv-
ers in the mineral and timber dis
tricts during the next two years.
The cost Of construction along these
water levels is estimated at $4,000
to $4,000 per mile, and as the rail
roads in this state must necessarily
follow the water courses bet,reen the
mountain ranges, they will never be
liable to suffer from Improbable
competition,
The Kauawha coal fields ship
ping all the coal and coke which
transportation can be supplied, and
the production Of coke this year will
probably double that Of any prev
ious out-pnt, sJilIleaving the supply
behind the demand
The Inter State Commerce Law
has unquestionably worked well in
this state, and has given it to some
extent, the benefit OF It's central loca-
ton.
while, as / have said, 40 real esta-
te craze has headed this way, yet big
money is being made in land trans
actions, values moving steadily up
ward. and no danger that the last
man" will be caught with unproft-
able stock in hand.
BTSHRoD &. WASHINGTON.